[B-Greek] Re: PROQESIS in Paul

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Fri Sep 26 07:33:16 EDT 2003


On Thu Sep 25 23:05:21 EDT 2003, Mike Singleton wrote:
>
>I am just starting out so forgive my errors and/or ignorance... :)

Welcome to the list. I hope you'll find that we're really pretty tolerant,
so long as you don't make any mistakes! ;-) One suggestion: try to indicate
succinctly what your subject is in the subject header.

>In many places in the Pauline writings, Paul mentions the word PROQESIN
>(e.g. Eph. 1:11. My question has to do with the seemingly idiomatic usage of
>this word.... can any shed some light on this? I don't have access to the
>all-important BDAG (smile), but I am saving my shekels for it!

The word PROQESIS does appear several times in the Pauline corpus: Rom.
8:28 ;  Rom. 9:11; Eph. 1:11; Eph. 3:11;  2Tim. 1:9; 2Tim. 3:10.

Here's what Louw and Nida (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based
on Semantic Domains) offer: EN hWi KAI EKLHRWQHMEN PROORISQENTES KATA
PROQESIN

30.63 PROQESIS, EWS, f.: (derivative of PROSTIQEMAIa 'to plan in advance,'
30.62) that which is planned or purposed in advance - 'plan, proposal,
purpose.' PAREKALEI PANTAS THi PROQESEI THS KARDIAS PROSMENEIN TWi KURIWi–
'he urged them all to remain true to the Lord in the purposes of their
hearts' Ac 11:23; EN hWi KAI EKLHRWQHMEN PROORISQENTES KATA PROQESIN 'in
whom we were also chosen, having been predetermined according to his
purpose' Eph 1:11.

And here's BDAG (omitting §1 which has to do with "showbread"):
PROQESIS, EWS, hH (PROTIQHMI) ....
	2. that which is planned in advance, plan, purpose, resolve, will
(Aristot. et al; Polyb. 1, 26, 1 and oft.; Plut., Mor. 960f; ins, pap; 2
and 3 Macc; EpArist, Philo; Jos., Ant. 18, 272; 19, 190).
	a. of humans 2 Ti 3:10 (here perh. w. a turn toward the mng. way of
thinking; cp. Polyb. 4, 73, 2 hJ pr., h§n e¶cei pro/ß tina; cp. PTebt 27,
81 [113 BC]). oJsi÷a kai« aýmwmoß pr. 1 Cl 45:7. hH PROQESIS THS KARDIAS
purpose of heart, i.e. devotion Ac 11:23 (cp. the Stoic thrust Epictet. 2,
8, 29; 4, 6, 26). THS PROQESEWS KRATEIN obtain one's purpose 27:13. KATA
PROQESIN according to purpose (Polyb.; PTebt 27, 81 [II BC]; 3 Macc 5:29;
EpArist 199) w. gen. KATA PROQESIN EUNOUCIAS in accordance with the resolve
to remain unmarried Agr 18.
	b. of divine purpose (s. lit. s.v. PROGINWSKW 2) hOI KATA PROQESIN
KLHTOI ONTES those who are called in accordance with (God's) purpose Ro
8:28 (EBlackman, ET 50, '39, 378f). hH KAT' EKLOGHN PROQESIS TOU QEOUGod's
purpose which operates by selection 9:11. KATA PROQESIN (Philo, Mos. 2, 61)
according to design Eph 1:11. Cp. 2 Ti 1:9. KATA PROQESIN TWN AIWNWN
according to the eternal purpose Eph 3:11 (s. AIWN 1b).- B. 1240f. DELG
s.v. TIQHMI. M-M. EDNT. TW.
-- 

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/



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